U.S. Rates Higher Than They Should Be

A recently released report grades the United States with a middle-of-the-road “C” when it comes to preterm birth rates. How did your state fare?

Preterm births in the U.S. have fallen, overall, for the sixth straight year. However, the rate is still considered to be too high across the board. The data from 2012 indicates that the preterm birth rate in the U.S. is 11.5 percent, which is a 15-year low. However, the March of Dimes, who released the report, said that the rate could be as low as 9.6 percent if prevention efforts were used universally.

Disparities

There were certain disparities noted, particularly between races. For example, the data showed African American women had a preterm birth rate of 16.8 percent and Native American women were at 13.6 percent — but the rate of Caucasian women was lower than both, at 10.5 percent. Reasons for these disparities are unknown and not easily explained by socioeconomic or educational differences.

Also noted were the varying percentages between the different states. California, who has the highest birth rate in the U.S., earned an “A” with its 9.6 percent preterm birth rate. Other areas didn’t score so well, like Alabama, whose 14.6 percent preterm birth rate earned it an “F.”